The University of Liverpool’s free Lunchtime Concert Series opens again on Wednesday.
Dr Helen Thomas, Artistic Coordinator of the concerts, explained “The concerts connect the region’s top performers and national artists in a wide range of musical genres with learning, teaching and research at the University. This season we are also pleased to announce Lunchtime Concert Extra, an occasional series of talks and workshops that offer additional insight into the musicians and music to be heard in the Lunchtime Concerts. Everyone is welcome: staff, students and members of the public.”
Jazz enthusiasts have already ‘sold out’ the first concert starring vocalist Emily Saunders’ five-piece band on Wednesday 26 September although places are still available for the afternoon workshop.
On Wednesday 3 October we are delighted to introduce Illuminate, an ensemble dedicated to the performance of historical and contemporary pieces by women composers. After the concert Angela Slater, winner of the renowned Mendelssohn Scholarship 2018, will discuss her work.
Klezmer-ish are back by popular demand on Wednesday 10 October with a programme of music of travellers which leads into Black birds / blue helmets, a collection of stories, memories and reflections on the edges of Europe performed by Alex Batesmith, Lecturer in Law and a former UN war crimes prosecutor and international rights lawyer.
Indika is already established as Europe’s largest festival of Indian art and we are proud to host the opening events in this year’s Indika Festival with a concert and workshop of south Indian music in the Carnatic tradition.
The internationally renowned pianist Reiko Fujisawa celebrates the great 19th century musician Clara Wieck Schumann with works that Clara performed during her short career as one of the major pianists of her time as well as some of Clara Schumann’s own compositions.
On 31 October and 7 November we welcome two ensembles with well-established teaching connections to the Department of Music. Pixels Ensemble perform music for flute, viola, harp and piano including Debussy’s luscious Sonata for flute, viola and harp and Berio’s extraordinary exploration of harp sonorities Sequenza II. The Solem Quartet – the University’s Ensemble-in-Residence return with music by Schumann and Bartók plus Analysis Live! another Extra session with lecturers Kenneth Smith and Richard Worth.
The University has a strong reputation for choral music and on Wednesday 14 November the University Staff Choir will give a musical tour around the world. And on Wednesday 12 December the University Chamber Choir will perform carols and seasonal songs – all under the direction of University Choral Director Anne Demougin.
The Lunchtime Concerts have provided a great platform for some of our alumni and on Wednesday 21 November we are pleased to welcome back We were glue, four of last year’s graduates in music, whose debut single My Girl received over 100,000 plays on Spotify. Emily Vanlint graduated in music in 2013 and is now a professional viola player and Lead Musician for the Liverpool Philharmonic’s In Harmony project. She is joined by Ian Buckle (piano) on Wednesday 28 November in a programme including works by Arvo Pärt and Paul Hindemith and a new commission from Eve Harrison.
All concerts and Extra events take place in the Leggate Theatre in the Victoria Gallery and Museum which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. It is the Museum collection that forms the focus of a concert by Whitelines on Wednesday 5 December. The musicians will perform an eclectic mix of repertoire from Italian madrigals through Beethoven to funk. Iinterspersed between these works they will improvise, taking ideas and inspiration from artefacts selected by visitors to the Museum. Guided tours of the museum are also bookable through the Extra series.